Wildcat

wild cats · Asia · Africa · Europe

Two main species. There are two main types of wildcats: the European wildcat and the African wildcat, plus an Asiatic wildcat. Each one looks a little different depending on where it lives.

European forest dweller. The European wildcat lives in forests across Europe, Anatolia, and the Caucasus mountains. It has long, fluffy fur and a bushy tail with a rounded tip at the end.

African savanna cat. The African wildcat is smaller and lives in semi-arid landscapes and steppes across Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia, western India, and western China. It has short sandy-gray fur that is only faintly striped.

Spotted Asian cousin. The Asiatic wildcat is spotted instead of striped, making it look quite different from its European and African relatives.

Tail tells the tale. You can tell these wildcats apart by their tails: the European has a bushy tail with a rounded tip, while the African has a tapering tail that gets thinner toward the end.